Their kids are curious about the world. Eager to try new things. They don't complain, not even during four-hour guided tours of Beijing's Forbidden City or visits to the Shanghai Museum to gaze at historic Ming vases.

We're just kidding. Children like that don't exist.

Here's a list of kid-friendly destinations and activities to try in China that will delight even the hardest to please teenager.

1. Great Wall joy ride

Walking is overrated.

Standing atop the Great Wall is one of those amazing travel experiences that needs no gimmicks attached. In theory.

But for kids who are especially hard to impress, the Mutianyu section of the Wall has a 723-meter-long ski lift to the top (640 meters above sea level) and a toboggan ride down to the valley via a 1,580-meter track.

4. Scorpions on a skewer

If you're in China with children and looking for a quick source of entertainment, new food could be the answer.

In Beijing, you can hit Wangfujing Snack Street and take photos of all the funny food you can't get at home, such as scorpions, centipedes and even weirder fare like sea horses.

Australian Lynette MacDonald, managing editor of Shanghai Family magazine and mother of two boys aged eight and 12, says she remembers taking her kids here and hearing a vendor call out, in English, "Have you ever eaten sheep's penis?"

The market also serves dumplings, steamed buns and fried noodles, which MacDonald says are tasty and prepared fresh in front of diners.

Beijing's Wangfujing Snack Street, Dong'anmen Dajie, at the north end of Wangfujing; open daily 5:30-10:30 p.m.

6. Yangshuo float

Yangshuo County in southeastern China has long inspired artists with its tranquil river scenes and otherworldly rock formations.

If you're in China with children, you can make the excursion more lively by renting water guns and cruising down a bamboo raft on the river, squirting people in other boats.

Yangshuo offers plenty of opportunities to burn off kids' energy. They can bike through rice paddies, explore caves, go rock climbing or take a mud bath.

Most travelers reach Yangshuo from Guilin. Buses bound for Yangshuo leave every 15 minutes from Guilin Bus Station on Zhongshan Lu and Guilin South Railway Station. The journey takes around 90 minutes and the fare is about RMB 15 per person.

Adults won’t be bored either. The people-watching opportunities are endless but our favorites are the retirees, who can be found ballroom dancing or slapping themselves (it’s good for circulation) as they stroll.